10 Cents

Last week while garage saling, I bought a pile of Taste of Home Magazines-10 cents a piece-you just can't beat that. Guess what I saw, then made, then ate. S'more Bars. They are so good and rich and delicious. 

S'More Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

5 Hershey's milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 oz. each)

1 cup marshmallow creme

*In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Combine the flour, cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping.

*Press remaining mixture into a greased 9-inch square baking pan. Place candy bars over crust; spread with marshmallow creme. Crumble remaining graham cracker mixture over top.

*Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in airtight container. YIELD: 1-1/2 dozen.

Tea for Two

This is Molly. She's an American Girl "Hand Me Down" Cosette received from our Kindergarten teacher's daughter. It belonged to her daughter Breeann and they wanted a good home for Molly. Lucky Cosette, right? Molly definitely came to the right house. She inherited Cosette's Mimi so she's slightly spoiled. She has a vast array of cute outfits,  accessories and even a nice cushy bed, all handmade by Mimi. (The pink robe she's wearing in this picture is just one of her many, many outfits.) As a thank you to Breeann and her mother for giving Molly to Cosette, Mimi and Cosette put together a tea party/Molly fashion show so Breeann could see that Molly was indeed in good hands.

 Cosette painted this picture for the tea party.

 The table is set.

Tea is served.

It was a lovely tea party.

Symphony in the park

 Dwight loves to read, even at the Symphony.

 It was chilly. That jacket isn't just a fashion statement.

 You just can't beat sitting around on a summer evening listening to good music, can you?

Look at the crowd. It was a beautiful event with beautiful music.

1 Mimi + 3 children + about 3 hours of hard work & fun= 1 cool castle

AJ is 5

 AJ started his birthday off by winning the Big Bike Race (along with skinning his hands and knees when he ate dirt right after the race began.)

 Traditional birthday cakes are so 4 year old.

Wait, something is missing. I know... 

 The birthday hat that AJ's preschool teacher gave him. We stopped the party so AJ could dig through his toy bin and find it.

Much better- Happy Birthday AJ!

Happy 5th Birthday AJ

 You are a blessing from God. I love how you were smiling the day you were born and have never stopped.

AJ: "I'm so excited I think I'm going to explode."

Happy Birthday AJ!

Writing Sentences

Sentences are often given as a punishment in our household. Dwight was the lucky winner of this punishment this morning. He just wouldn't quit pestering AJ and then when he was finished with AJ he moved on to pestering Cosette. Enough was enough and Cosette let me know by begging for me to do something. So, I called Dwight downstairs and said---

ME: "Dwight, I want you to write this sentence 30 times. I will be kind and decent to my siblings."

DWIGHT: "Ok, mom." (That was unusual.)
Then I heard him say from the table as he was writing--- "I will be kind and decent to my tattletale siblings."

ME:"Dwight, make that 50 sentences please."

DWIGHT: "I'm struck by a terrible fate once again."

Celebrate!

 Yesterday, Grace turned 17. Time really does go by so quickly.

 Is it a blessing or a curse to be born on Flag Day? The decorations are endless.

It was a nice birthday celebration. Runzas were eaten...

 Good friends spent time together.

 Cherry Bars were glowing with candles.

Happy 17th Birthday Grace! We love you and are so proud of you.

Happy 17th Birthday Grace!

June 12, 1999

 12 years really does go by in the blink of an eye...

In the blink of an eye ...

DWIGHT: Mom, Grace was right. Tomorrow is already Friday. Summer really is going to be gone in the blink of an eye.

COSETTE: (yelling sarcastically from the other room) Um, Dwight, I just blinked and guess what? Summer is still here.

DWIGHT: She just doesn't understand sayings yet, does she?

May 30th Graduation Day!

Right before the graduation

 Graduation stage-Garrison graduated with a class of 400

 We are proud of you Garrison!